Mercedes-Benz wagon stands alone

The Mercedes-Benz R-Class wagon looks long, low and big. With an overall length of 5,157 mm, this is a larger car, but still shorter than most pickup trucks. It just looks big because of its long low lines. However, driving the R-Class is a different story. How can a big car feel so muchsmaller when behind the wheel?The R-Class has had subtle changes for 2011. The outside mirrors are a new, smaller design and blind spot monitoring has been added. The front end has seen the most change, with a new hood, fenders, and dark-tinted Bixenon headlights. The grille is now black with chrome accents and the front bumper now includes a simulated underguard to make the front end look a little moretype aggressive. The most noticeable change is the usedaytime running lights, which give the car a distinctive look.At the rear, the taillights are the rear bumper has been changed to include the new dual integrated exhaust tips.A 3.5 litre V-6 gas engine is the standard engine in the R-Class. Our test vehicle came with the optional 3.0 litre Turbocharged V-6 BlueTec diesel engine and what a powerplant this it. The engine makes only the slightest diesel sound when first started and if you weren't paying attention, you would probably think the car had a gasoline engine. Torque is instant, withpeak torque between1,600 and 2,400 r.p.m. Just a touch of the accelerator and the R350 BlueTec sprints away from a stop sign like it was a sports car. The engine also revs freely, so it feels like a gas engine too. Be careful when refilling with fuel. It would be very easy to forget you need diesel fuel.While the engine power can be attributed to four valves per cylinder, turbocharging, direct injection and intercooling, the vehicle's performance also comes from the seven-speed automatic transmission. Not only do the small differences in gear ratios between shifts make it smoother and quicker, it also improves fuel economy. A multi-plate lockup clutch in the torque converter also improves economy and the torque converter can lock up in all gear ratios to provide a direct connection to the wheels.
The shift lever is one of Mercedes' little electronic stalks. Push it down for Drive, up for Reverse and on the end for Park. With electronically controlled transmissions, a large shift lever is no longer needed. Paddle shifters on the steering wheel allow manual gear selections and the response is fast. Even when in drive mode, depending on the vehicle speed, the transmission will shift directly down several gears instantly to provide the best gear ratio for the performance you have requested.
All R-Class cars have use the Mercedes 4-MATIC all wheel drive system. This puts the power to the ground for all road conditions and works invisibly behind the scene. Traction and stability control are also standard equipment if road conditions get too slippery.
Inside, the car has lots of room. Front seat power adjustments are found on the front door panels. Both front bucket seats and the second row seats are heated. The 40/20/40 split second row has excellent leg room and the seat backs recline as well. Getting into the 50/50 split third row is a bit of a challenge but the huge rear doors on the R350 help access. With all the seats folded, there is 2,385 litres of cargo space - more than enough for those gardening supplies or yard sale shopping.